March 2020 edition
An inside look at Pennsylvania's early education system.
What's New for March
Governor Wolf's proposed 2020-21 budget maintains the administration's investment in quality early learning opportunities for Pennsylvania families and children, and helps ensure families maintain access to programs. See the article below for specific details.

The March edition of the PA Early Ed News also provides opportunities for Early Childhood Education (ECE) professionals to share their feedback, access online learning, share important information with the families they serve, and increase the overall quality of their team. There's even an opportunity for families to share their story via video during April's Month of the Young Child. Get the details below.

Learn how you can use T he Pennsylvania Birth through College, Career, Community Ready Family Engagement Framework to strengthen supports for families. See below on how to schedule a presentation and access additional supports.

Finally, OCDEL welcomes Kesley Shaw, the new Director of the Bureau of Policy and Professional Development which develops and implements standards for early learning programs and professionals to improve the quality of early learning for our young children; and provides financial supports and technical assistance for programs and professionals. 
Early Education in Pennsylvania
2020-21 Governor’s Executive Budget Overview
Governor Tom Wolf's proposed budget, released Feb. 4, 2020 aligns with the administration's prioritization on improving and ensuring quality of life for all Pennsylvanians, starting at birth and extending their lifespan. This work has put the commonwealth on a comeback and set the stage for long-term prosperity and is helping people across Pennsylvania lead fulfilling, enriched lives. 

This budget takes the recommendations from the Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center and turns them into action. Five barriers to employment were identified: transportation, child care, training, licensure, and re-entry from institutional settings. Each barrier is tied to an initiative throughout the Governor’s budget, through job training, innovation and technology, education, or services for vulnerable populations.

Central to the 2020-21 Governor’s Executive Budget is a proposal to increase the state minimum wage to $12 per hour effective July 1, 2020.  

The following are specific investments in children that will impact OCDEL and ensure families maintain services to programs.

Department of Human Services

Certification: 30 new positions to support increased workloads and ensure timely inspections, investigate complaints, monitor corrective action and provide technical assistance. 

Early Intervention: Early Intervention Birth-3 (supplemental increase of $16.039 million; total 2019-20 appropriation of $177.471 million AND increase of $14.318 million, total 2020-21 appropriation of $191.789 million) to serve an estimated 51,900 children. In 2020-21, increased state funding will support:  
  • $2.5 million to increase county administration allocations 
  • $11.818 million to support program growth

Child Care Works: The Child Care Works (CCW) program is estimated to serve approximately 111,470 children in June 2020.
  • Child Care Services (level-funded, total appropriation of $156.482 million) to support low income families.
  • Child Care Assistance (increase of $108,000, total appropriation of $109.993 million) to support families receiving TANF, Former TANF and SNAP benefits.
   
CCW is also supported by federal funding sources including Child Care Development Block Grant, Social Service Block Grant and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. During 2020-21, available funds will be utilized for the following initiatives:
  • $74.104 million ($90,000 state and $74.014 million federal) to support a minimum wage increase
  • $15.3 million ($18,000 state and $15.282 million federal) to improve CCW base rates
  • $436,000 (federal) to restructure the co-payment contribution calculation required of families participating in CCW 

Home Visiting and Family Support Services: Community-Based Family Centers (increase of $1 million; total appropriation $19.558 million) to replace reduced federal funding and continue services for approximately 10,000 slots.   
 
Nurse Family Partnership: (level funded; total appropriation of $13.178 million)
 
During 2020-21, DHS plans to release a competitive Request for Application (RFA) to recompete for all federal and state Evidence-based Home Visiting (EBHV) and Family Support Program funding. New grants awarded through this RFA are anticipated to begin July 1, 2021. All current EBHV and Family Support grantees will be required to recompete for funding through the RFA process.

The administration values Home Visiting programs. In addition to the work at OCDEL, OMAP is expanding a home visiting initiative through Medicaid managed care organizations to provide at least two home visits to all first-time mothers and mothers of at-risk children covered by Medicaid. 

Department of Education

Early Childhood Education: The 2020-21 Governor’s Executive Budget continues to build on the state’s investment in PA Pre-K Counts and Heads Start Supplemental Assistance. 
 
PA Pre-K Counts (increase of $25 million; total appropriation of $242.284 million) , $25 million to serve an additional 2,800 children.
 
Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (increase of $5 million, total appropriation of $69.178 million) $5 million to serve an additional 467 children.

Together with $145 million in funding increases secured over the past five years for Early Childhood Education, an additional investment of $30 million in 2020-21 will increase funding for Pre-K Counts by 149 percent and funding for Head Start Supplemental Assistance by 77 percent since 2014-15.

In total, the proposed funding levels will enable OCDEL to serve approximately 28,100 children in Pre-K Counts and 7,000 children in Head Start Supplemental Assistance.  

Early Intervention: Preschool Early Intervention, 3-5 (increase of $11 million, total 2019-20 appropriation of $325.5 million) to serve an additional 2,000 children or 61,000 total children. 

For additional details, please see the Governor's proposed budget on the Office of the Budget website .
National Presentation on Strategies to Serve Families with Substance and Opioid Use Disorders
Staff from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recently participated in a presentation at the National Home Visiting Summit in Washington D.C. on Jan. 30, 2020. The presentation was with one of OCDEL's grantees (Columbia County Family Center) and evaluators Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) PolicyLab and a member from the Home Visiting Applied Research Collaborative (HARC) Leadership Team, Johns Hopkins University, Cynthia Minkovitz, M.D., M.P.P.  

In 2019, Pennsylvania invested in 20 pilot sites that proposed varied strategies to serve families in a diverse communities with a high burden of substance and opioid use disorders (SUD/OUD). A partnership between PolicyLab at CHOP and OCDEL is using a mixed-methods approach to understand the barriers and facilitators to implement this pilot program. The session described the variability of strategies for service coordination at the local level, and identified best practices for enrolling, referring and delivering services to vulnerable families within a large state where state infrastructure and resources are a constant. Session participants identified barriers to and facilitators of implementing coordinated services for families impacted by SUD/OUD in the home visiting setting. In addition, participants identified promising local partnerships and coordination strategies, and networked with other leaders in the field.

For more information, contact Andrew Dietz at anddietz@pa.gov .
Survey to Support Early Childhood Social-Emotional Health
Deadline April 17, 2020
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites early childhood education professionals, family members, higher education staff and mental, physical and oral health care professionals to take a brief survey regarding their experiences and communications around early childhood social-emotional development. The survey results will be used to assist the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMH) Project in developing tools for families and professionals to use in understanding and obtaining supports around early childhood social-emotional health. Click here to take the survey and share with community partners. Deadline April 7, 2020.
Help Families Share their Story for MOYC
Hearing stories from others can inspire, encourage and support. Early childhood education (ECE) professionals and community partners can help families share their stories on PA's Promise for Children website to celebrate families during April's Month of the Young Child (MOYC). Family stories might be about:
  • What makes their child special
  • What dreams they have for their child
  • How they help their young child grow, help their child feel safe and loved, learn new things, or meet and get along with new people
  • How the help of a home visitor, therapist or nurse at home has made an impact for their child and family.
  • How a child care, early learning program or teacher has helped them and their child
  • How they have seen their child grow, overcome illness, disabilities or delays, or learn new words, new skills, or come out of their shell

ECE professionals and others may share stories with written permission from the child’s parent/guardian. 

Stories will be profiled on Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website at www.papromiseforchildren.com .

Families can pick a way to share their story.
  • Share a written story. Families can submit their story and a photo. Click here to share a written story.
  • Share a story via video. PA's Promise for Children will do the work if families would like to share a story via video. Families may be eligible for a $200 stipend for a video story if selected. Click here to submit information to be considered. (Families must be eligible to come to Harrisburg for the recording during March 2020. Participation is limited.)

Shared stories do not contain identifiable information about a family or their child (like last names or specific locations). Contact Mary Hall at marhal@pakeys.org for additional information .
Broadening the Reach of The Pennsylvania Birth through College, Career, Community Ready Family Engagement Framework
Since the launch of The Pennsylvania Birth through College, Career, Community Ready Family Engagement Framework during Summer 2019, the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has presented the Framework at seven conferences and is creating supports to promote the resource. 

An articulate course in the PD Registry was developed to provide learning communities the opportunity to understand the components of the Framework and to utilize it as a tool to guide the implementation of effective practices, use of shared language, and family engagement continuum for families across their child’s educational lifespan. Parent companion documents are being created in collaboration between OCDEL, the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC), and family stakeholders to be released in Spring 2020.

The Fred Rogers Center (FRC) is collaborating with OCDEL to adapt the Simple Interactions approach to support the implementation of the Framework across Pennsylvania’s Learning Communities. The intent is to identify, capture, and highlight the existing family engagement practices of partner learning organizations through observation, storytelling, and filming of ordinary moments of family engagement interaction.

For more information, or to have a presentation scheduled, please contact Sarah Holland, Special Assistant on Family Engagement at saholland@pa.gov .  
New No-Cost Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center Online Modules on Homelessness Available in Pennsylvania’s PD Registry
Eight new no-cost online modules are available now in the Professional Development (PD) Registry. These Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) online modules are intended for professionals in Head Start, Early Head Start and child care, CCDF Lead Agency or designated entity staff and other key stakeholders who encounter populations experiencing homelessness. Learn how to identify families experiencing homelessness, conduct community outreach, and more. The following modules are available:
  • Module 1: Overview of Family Homelessness
  • Module 2: Understanding Family Homelessness
  • Module 3: Understanding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act's Definition of Homelessness
  • Module 4: Determining a Family's Homeless Situation
  • Module 5: Identifying and Reaching Out to Families Experiencing Homelessness
  • Module 6: Enhancing Program Access and Participation for Children Experiencing Homelessness
  • Module 7: Building Relationships with Families
  • Module 8: Connecting with Community Partners

Each module is worth one (1) PQAS hour. Upon completion, each module will show as verified on an individual’s Professional Development Learning Record.

These modules have been created by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement. Visit www.papdregistry.org to find these courses and more.
Request for Applications for Parent Pathways: Models for Single Parents Pursuing Postsecondary Training & Education
Solicitation Due Date: March 23, 2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has posted the following Solicitation RFA 14-19 for Parent Pathways: Models for Single Parents Pursuing Postsecondary Training & Education. This Request for Applications (RFA) provides to those interested in submitting applications for the subject procurement (Applicants) sufficient information to enable them to prepare and submit applications for the DHS's consideration on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Through this procurement, DHS is seeking qualified entities to establish community-based comprehensive models to support access to, and success in, postsecondary education and training for single parents. In Phase 1 of the procurement, DHS intends to provide technical assistance to selected Applicants for the development of a model implementation plan. At its option, DHS will potentially award start-up funding to some or all of the selected Applicants for the implementation of proposed models as Parent Pathways Models.
View the bid online at eMarketplace or by clicking here . Public bid openings consist of a commonwealth procurement representative electronically accessing or opening timely received bids. The representative announces the suppliers whose bids were timely received and the total bid amount to those present at the bid opening except where it is deemed unreasonable to read the bid amount due to complexity or large number of line items. Suppliers are not permitted to review bids at the opening. The bid tabulation will be posted to www.eMarketplace.state.pa.us as soon as practicable after the opening. Awarded contracts are posted to eMarketplace after they become fully executed.
PA L&I Seeks Applications for Strategic Innovation Grant (SIG) 
Application Deadline March 27, 2020
The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announce the availability of approximately $4 million of funding for Strategic Innovation Grant (SIG) awards of up to $300,000 each. This Notice of Grant Availability (NGA) seeks applications to support initiatives across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA) that innovatively and creatively address barriers to employment facing Pennsylvanians, including the barrier of child care.

The Governor’s Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center identified several such barriers in its recent annual report , including:
  • Individuals with a criminal record re-entering the community and workforce from the criminal justice system
  • Transportation
  • Child care
  • Occupational licensure
  • Access to education and training

In addition to these barriers, this SIG opportunity may also be used to address other common barriers to employment, including:
  • Poverty and low income
  • Disability
  • Language and cultural barriers
  • Basic skills deficiency and low literacy
  • Homelessness and housing insecurity
  • Transitioning off public assistance
  • Age
  • Transitioning out of the military

Application is due by 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday, March 27. Materials can be found at the L&I website .
OCDEL Welcomes Director, Bureau of Policy and Professional Development
The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) welcomes the selection and appointment of a new Director, Bureau of Policy and Professional Development, Kesley Shaw.

Ms. Shaw has 16 years of experience in early childhood education and has expert knowledge of program management, resource and curriculum development, quality improvement, and professional development. She provided specialized training and technical assistance focused on the enhancement of the capacity of the state early childhood programs through the PDG B-5 grant. As a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist, she was the liaison with various agencies to support program objectives and optimize resources and collaboration across federal, regional, and state teams to ensure prioritization and concerns were addressed. As a Tribal Head Start Administrator, she led numerous initiatives to ensure services were culturally responsive to the American Indian/Alaska Native community and developed strong relationships with tribal representatives. She holds a Master's degree in Early Education.  Learn more about the Bureau of Policy and Professional Development.
Save the Date
Of Interest
PACCA Webinar: Making the Census Count for all PA Kids!
March 11, 2020 1:00 – 2:00 pm
The federal government uses census data to help allocate over $800 billion a year in federal funds to key programs that serve children and families.

When we miss young children in the census, our communities miss out on funding for public programs for much of their childhood. This can mean anything from overcrowded classrooms to limited public funding available to help families in need of food. It also means our families in need of child care subsidies stand even less of a chance of getting the funds they need to cover the high price of child care.

In this short, free webinar, find out what you can do to help encourage families in your early childhood education programs to participate in the 2020 Census. Click here to register for the March 11 webinar.
Wolf Administration Prepares for Spread of Coronavirus, or COVID-19
On Feb. 26, 2020, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine outlined the Wolf Administration’s steps to prepare for community spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19, as well as what Pennsylvanians can do now. To date, no one in Pennsylvania has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Since the start of this outbreak, we’ve taken a proactive approach to prepare and carefully monitor potential cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania,” Dr. Levine said. “As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised today, we need to be prepared for community spread of COVID-19. We are working to make sure our health systems, first responders and county and municipal health departments have the resources they need to respond.”

As of February 25, there are more than 80,000 cases worldwide, including more than 2,700 deaths. There are 57 cases and no deaths to date in the United States. The CDC expects cases to continue to be confirmed in the upcoming days and weeks but wants everyone to take action to help prevent the spread of the virus. CDC also said due to the rapidly changing nature of the spread of COVID-19 around the world, it is important for families to be prepared.

“We know through our work with CDC in planning for disease outbreaks that it is best to prepare now.” Dr. Levine said. “The same  family emergency plans and kits that we use to prepare for flu or norovirus, and even snowstorms and floods, are important now. Pennsylvanians should continue to help stop the spread of viruses by washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning surfaces and staying home if you are sick.” Read more . For more information, visit the PA Department of Health website.
Register Your Team to Participate in a Parent Cafe Training Institute Event
Six Parent Cafe Training Institute (PCTI) events are scheduled winter/spring 2020 to encourage more communities to use this forum for engaging family members in learning more about the five research-based Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors that keep families strong. The PCTI is a two-day experiential and highly interactive institute that prepares a team of family leaders and family support providers, educators and other professionals to convene and implement parent cafés and serve as café leaders and table hosts. Participants gain an understanding and have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors. 

The PCTI is designed for team participation. Each team must have at least four members and may include family members and staff. All team members must participate in both days of the course. Each team will participate in follow-up implementation support from certified instructor technical assistants. Teams that complete the course will be able to apply for a mini-grant to assist in the implementation of the required Be Strong Parent Cafés.

The scheduled training dates are:
  • March 31-April 1, 2020: Williamsport area--Apply by March 15, 2020
  • April 7-8, 2020: Harrisburg area
  • Week of April 20, 2020: Southeastern Pennsylvania area
  • May 5-6, 2020: Grove City area
  • June 3-4, 2020: Scranton area
  • June 16-17, 2020: Pittsburgh area
Register to Attend a PA Science Standards Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
In August 2019, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education charged the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) with updating the Pennsylvania Science and Technology and the Environment and Ecology Academic Standards. Through the end of March, PDE will host face-to-face and virtual Stakeholder Engagement Sessions to inform the field of the review process, to provide an overview of the current landscape of science education in the commonwealth and nationally, and to solicit feedback. These stakeholder sessions are vital for informing the future direction of science and technology and environment and ecology education in Pennsylvania. Click here for information about the PA Science Standards Stakeholder Engagement Meeting Registration.
HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2020
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation has prepared new poverty guidelines . Many programs across the federal government, as well as state governments and non-profit organizations, rely on these guidelines to determine family eligibility for systems and services. The 2020 poverty guidelines are calculated by taking the 2018 Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds and adjusting them for price changes between 2018 and 2019 using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).
Avoiding Fraud and Scams with the U.S. Census
The U.S. Census Bureau is committed to making the 2020 Census quick, easy, and safe for all participants. Here are some tips to help you stay safe and ensure the information reported related to the U.S. Census is to the correct entity.

  • Avoid Scams Online: It is important to know that the Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. During the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask for:
  • Your Social Security number.
  • Your bank account or credit card numbers.
  • Money or donations.
  • In addition, the Census Bureau will not contact you on behalf of a political party.
  • Staying Safe at Home: If someone visits your home to collect a response for the 2020 Census, you can do the following to verify their identity:
  • First, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date.
  • If you still have questions about their identity, you can call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative.
  • Reporting Suspected Fraud: If you suspect fraud, call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative. If it is determined that the visitor who came to your door does not work for the Census Bureau, contact your local police department.

For more information on the U.S. Census, visit the website at 2020census.gov .
Host An Event for Remake Learning Days Across America
A Remake Learning Day (RLD) event is one that is innovative, youth-centered (for youth pre-k – 12 grades), family-friendly, and open to the public that provides a hands-on learning experience utilizing one or more RLD themes: arts, maker, outdoor learning, science, technology, and youth voice. Entities such as school, after-school organization, museum, library, community center, arts space, tech company, makerspace, park, for-profit or non-profit organization are invited to host a RLD event.

There are currently RLD being held in Central PA, Southeastern PA, and Southwestern PA, although any region can join as a Pop-Up event host during the national festival dates of April 23 – May 23, 2020. Get more information on the Remake Learning Day website .
Action for Healthy Kids Grants
Deadline April 3
Action for Healthy Kids is accepting applications for school grants for the 2020-21 school year to help students thrive. Schools may apply for Game On grants to fund physical activity, nutrition or social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives. Parents and parent groups can apply for Parents for Healthy Kids grants to bring health and wellness programs to their children’s schools while also promoting parent engagement. The application deadline is April 3. Learn more here. 
Research and Reports
Every Little Bit Helps: Leveraging State Investment to Expand Head Start's Reach 
From just $500,000 to more than $50 million, more than a dozen states are committing new funding resources to enable Head Start to reach more at-risk children and their families with health, nutrition, education, and family support services. A new policy brief, More Important than Ever: State Investments in Head Start and Early Head Start to Support At-Risk Children and Families , describes the innovative models and best practices 14 states are currently using to apply over $400 million each budget cycle to expand Head Start's impact in strengthening families, promoting school readiness, and improving child health. 
 
More Important Than Ever is based on information gathered directly from state government partners and state Head Start associations. It was created through a partnership between the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Read the key takeaways of More Important Than Ever in a new blog post, We Must Address the Surge in Adverse Childhood Experiences .
Afterschool: Fostering Protective Factors that Can Last a Lifetime  
The adolescent years are a critical period for development, research shows. Factors that affect development include risk factors that increase a young person’s chances of engaging in unhealthy behaviors, and protective factors that promote healthy behaviors and development. This issue brief, Afterschool: Fostering Protective Factors that Can Last a Lifetime , from the Afterschool Alliance looks at the ways afterschool and summer learning programs cultivate protective factors that support young people in developing the skills and competencies they need to thrive.
New Report Offers Strategies for Communicating Early Math’s Benefits
FrameWorks Institute’s new report, Reframing Early Math Learning , has strategies for shifting public understanding about early math. It suggests ways to shape communications and outreach to make the early math issue more accessible and compelling to policymakers, families, and the public.
T he Child Care Crisis Causes Job Disruptions
Some staggering numbers from this analysis, The Child Care Crisis Causes Job Disruptions for More Than 2 Million Parents Each Year , from Center for American Progress: From 2016 to 2018, more than 2 million parents of children age 5 and younger—9 percent, or nearly 1 in 10 parents—had to quit a job, not take a job, or greatly change their job because of child care problems. The child care crisis not only affects families’ bottom lines; it also costs the economy $57 billion in annual lost revenue, wages, and productivity. Nationally, 8.8% of parents of young children experience high rates of child care-related job disruptions, while 8.3% of Pennsylvania families experience this situation.
Resources
Language Development and Young Children
In 2013, Stanford University released a study showing a language gap in children living in families with different income levels. The study found “children of lower-income, less-educated parents typically enter school with poorer language skills than their more privileged counterparts. By some measures, 5-year-old children of lower socioeconomic status score more than two years behind on standardized language development tests by the time they enter school.” A delay in language development can impact the way a child learns, not only while young, but as they get older.

Every family—regardless of income, education level or their spoken language—can help their child develop the language needed to learn and be successful in school. There are many ways parents, families and caregivers can help children develop language skills and set them on a path to learning. Read more and access resources to support families and their child's language development .
Read Aloud 15 Minutes
Reading aloud is not only the single most important thing a parent or caregiver can do to help prepare a child for reading and learning; it’s also a magical connection through the interaction between you, your child, and the book! Join the Read Aloud 15 Minutes campaign during the month of March and discover the benefits of reading aloud to children. At readaloud.org   there are tons of great resources that you will want to share with others in order to inspire reading every day. Find many new resources through the Partner Toolkit which includes:
  • Posters
  • Parent Handouts
  • Bookmarks
  • Reaching Trackers
  • Activity Sheets
  • Web Graphics

If you’re looking for new books to share with or explore with children of various ages, check out the book selections webpage that is also available. Please use these resources and share them with others to help promote reading aloud every day!
2019 Tax Credits and Free Tax Preparation Services for Families with Low Income  
The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit are among the largest Internal Revenue Service (IRS) public benefits for low-income households. Early Childhood Education (ECE) professionals can ensure families are informed about these credits. 
  
  • EITC is a benefit for workers with low to moderate income. To qualify, an individual must meet certain requirements and file a tax return. If you owe tax, EITC can reduce the amount you owe. In other instances, EITC may provide a refund.
  • The non-refundable Child Tax Credit may reduce a family's taxes by as much as $2,000 for each qualifying child. Up to $1,400 of the credit can be refundable for each qualifying child as the Additional Child Tax Credit. A refundable tax credit may give a family a refund even if they don't owe any tax. These credits are different than the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
  • The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who make $56,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.
  • The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free help for all taxpayers regardless of age or income. TCE counselors specialize in pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors ages 60 or older.
Be Prepared with Emergency Preparedness Resources
Infants and toddlers have unique needs when it comes to emergency preparedness. Child Care Aware of America has created some  resources  to help child care providers prepare to care for infants and toddlers during and after an emergency.
'The Brain Architects' Episode 2 Podcast
The second episode of the Center on the Developing Child's new podcast, The Brain Architects, explores excessive or prolonged activation of stress response systems in early childhood which can have damaging effects on learning, behavior, and health across the lifespan. Learn what effects toxic stress can have on a child's body and development, how those effects can be prevented, and what it means to build resilience. Listen as a panel of experts speaks openly about how toxic stress can affect children and families, and digs into strategies to help children and families deal with stress. Listen to Episode 2 . Missed the first episode? Catch up by listening to Episode 1: Brain Architecture: Laying the Foundation .
S ummer Learning Recruitment Guide
Research shows that students with high attendance in quality summer learning programs gain an advantage in math and reading. But getting kids to sign up for voluntary summer learning programs isn’t easy.

In the guide Summer Learning Recruitment Guide from The Wallace Foundation, learn from five school districts how to launch a summer learning recruitment effort. Also discover 8 Keys to Success for Summer Learning Recruitment such as:

  • Understanding Your Audience;
  • Creating Engaging Messaging;
  • Making Registration Easy; and
  • Building Relationships with Parents and Students.
Natural Resources Edition Offers Info and Supports for Those Experiencing Homelessness
The February issue of the Natural Resources listserv has free, readily available resources for supporting young children (birth-Grade 3), their families and the professionals/systems that serve and support them. The February issue is devoted to information and supports for children, families, and college students who are experiencing homelessness.
Better Kid Care School-Age Supports
Has it been awhile since you explored what Penn State Better Kid Care (BKC) has to offer school-age professionals?  Download this flyer for a summary of the resources.

There are now 100+ hours of online modules that can provide CEUs and Act 48 credits. Hours can be used toward a school-age credential renewal and to fulfill individual professional development plans. Our most recently launched modules include Positive Peer Interactions in School-Age Programs—Frontline Staff and Out-of-School Nutrition and Physical Activity (OSNAP). OSNAP is a seven-hour module designed to help programs evaluate and improve their nutrition and physical activity practices and policies. It includes many links to curriculum ideas for physical activity and nutrition. BKC will be presenting on this program at the National Afterschool Association Convention in March. In the next few months BKC will launch modules related to adventure opportunities in OST programming and Health and Safety best practices. 

There is also a coaching guide on Positive Youth Development (PYD) to help coaches/program leaders work with school age professionals on an ongoing basis about youth development concepts. These coaching conversations support the independent work a professional might undertake while completing the PYD Foundations series. All these materials are designed specifically for the school-age program. 

To keep abreast of BKC resources, subscribe to the e-newsletters.
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